West Valley heads for state
E. J. Richardson scored 25 points, powering No. 6-ranked West Valley past third-ranked Hanford, 50-47 at Richland to win the 3A Eastern Regional championship and a state berth.
Hanford suffered its first loss of the season. The win was a slice of sweet revenge for the Eagles (20-3), which was eliminated from last year’s regional tournament by Hanford.
Only five Eagles had a hand in the scoring.
At Hanford, Ellensburg knocked off West Valley-Yakima, 47-43 – setting up a Hanford-Ellensburg battle for the region’s No. 2 state seed today at Richland.
District 7 A
Freeman takes No. 1 seed
Malcolm Soelberg buried three 3-point field gals in the final 2:19 of the first half – one of them a four-point play – sparking Freeman past Colfax, 76-62, to claim the No. 1 seed out of the District 7 A tournament into next week’s State 1A boys basketball tournament in Yakima.
The left-handed senior sparked a run of 14 consecutive points by the Scotties, breaking open a 32-28 game and sending the Scotties to 46-30 a halftime lead. Soelberg finished with 23.
Colfax (9-13) got 18 points from Ben Aune and 17 more from Erik Wick.
The Bulldogs will be the No. 2 seed from the district into the state tournament.
District 6 1A at Brewster
Oroville sacks Lake Roosevelt
Oroville ended Lake Roosevelt’s season, 58-50, in a loser-out game at the North Central District tournament at Brewster. Oroville now plays Brewster for seeding of the district’s two state tournament berths.
Idaho 1A District I
Lakeside claims state berth
Top-seeded Lakeside (21-1) needed a late spurt to down No. 2 Post Falls Christian (15-7) 64-54 at Lakeland High School and grab the districts’ first berth for the 1A state tournament beginning Wednesday at Vallivue High School in Caldwell, Idaho. Guard Tim Wolfe’s 23 points led the Knights. PFC will play Mullan today at 4 p.m. at Lakeland for the district’s second berth to state. … Mullan 43, Wallace 39: Jesse James’ 16 points led Mullan (11-11) to a win over visiting Wallace (9-14).